BY CHRISTINE VALDEZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The memory of the events of 9/11 bring back tragedy for all the families involved, but now scammers are allegedly trying to make money off of their loss.

Two New Jersey men are currently being sued for collecting thousands of dollars of donations in a 9/11 charity scam. According to NBC NY, a lawsuit was filed on Monday in Superior Court against 66-year old Mark Niemczyk of Tinton Falls. 40-year-old Thomas Scalgione of Manahawkin is also being sued.

Niemczyk and Scalgione are being sued for using the money for their own personal needs. The men claimed to use donations for families of the victims of 9/11 but failed to register the charity, which is required by state law.

New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa says that the two men claimed to support a foundation that does not exist: the Cain Foundation. Chiesa also mentions that both men tried to use a national tragedy for a profit.

Both men “used a national tragedy to dupe the public,” said Chiesa to the Examiner. “Rather than aiding the families of first responders who perished, [they] are causing additional emotion distress through their alleged avarice and greed.”

According to the lawsuit, the men used a red pick up truck with the names of first responders on the side of the truck.

Rosemary Cain, who lost her son in the tragic event, feels betrayed that all the names of first responders are being featured on the side of a truck in a charity scam.

“Oh absolutely, I feel betrayed and I feel that he’s dishonored the 343 firefighters. He’s dishonored them by putting their names on a truck…to scam people of their money,” said Cain to CBS New York. “Absolutely it’s a betrayal, it’s disgusting.”

Niemczyk and Scalgione both have criminal records. Their charity scam was revealed in a YouTube video about a year ago by a real ex-SEAL, Don Shipley.

According to the Examiner, the scam was so successful that they even got Gov. Chris Christie to pose with the truck in a photo.